tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40165351680641882282024-03-25T10:05:44.766-04:0012 AM FictionShort stories, miro fiction, all of that and more here for when you can't sleep in the midnight hour.Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comBlogger664125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-70442859925149781212023-09-11T00:00:00.036-04:002023-09-11T00:00:00.170-04:00Day 218<p>Day 218 of travel and Azure awakes to a sight she never imagined she would see. The planet Earth, once thought to be lost, was here after all. Azure and a dozen people fled the space station that they had spent their lives on. A caste system had been created, and mutiny became a common occurrence. The stolen ship lacked many of the comforts of their former home, and there was no guarantee that Earth was still livable. But they had to go, there was no other logical choice for them. They had been told their entire lives that Earth was destroyed by pollution and the air was poison. It would be another few days before they actually reached Earth, but they could see it, still there and that was enough for now.</p><p>Azure stepped away from the screen that served as a window and tossed herself back into her bed. She buried her head into a pillow and shouted. The excitement simply couldn't be contained. Earth was right before her. Not in her reach, but a few more big leaps and she would be there. </p><p>The sound of shouting echoed and bounced off the ship's walls, but it wasn't Azure's shouts; it was the shouts of her friends. No doubt waking up to their own views of earth. They had come so far, and the future may not be as bright as they hope, but there was hope. For 218 days, they waited for hope, and it had finally arrived.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86PeQlbDK48EL4sEQlw8Wt2imv2j_1DsYy4x2ntMCVYhnjco8dCfCZifkSLKy2Vi81jEixh0b8MbfqMePw-ZmWIENMLer8-Q4_K3j5pbetwAoDhok53aJR0LBRuk6loLhgUhNWfL5HQ1xi0YdlIFuY-9lP8-HPH34r_unwuens0LJ6Z5Ph6shJ_egNg/s2500/sv3l027sj2nb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86PeQlbDK48EL4sEQlw8Wt2imv2j_1DsYy4x2ntMCVYhnjco8dCfCZifkSLKy2Vi81jEixh0b8MbfqMePw-ZmWIENMLer8-Q4_K3j5pbetwAoDhok53aJR0LBRuk6loLhgUhNWfL5HQ1xi0YdlIFuY-9lP8-HPH34r_unwuens0LJ6Z5Ph6shJ_egNg/s16000/sv3l027sj2nb1.jpg" /></a></div><i><div><i><br /></i></div>Not sure where the picture came from, I saw it on Reddit but we all know Reddit doesn't do much original these days.</i><br /><i><br /></i><p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-55157542857141842162023-09-04T00:00:00.000-04:002023-09-10T02:55:35.726-04:00Hot Chocolate <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYK38GkVSFUslgqhD-4Ch3VznvZSlb1X7glmjOTYhav2Y0oF3_jAmuMQ1HVgM-UQGDNK2x8qfgoDWu_mPWckYBlQUai0lYWmdGrXnGxxjy2zyWAYcGtR2TP6fly_vw3NYk-8-SuHq_g0wHunr096GFZqs7_UpsNTtoWmjZJU2OnP9KyrAURK7Y_u81Q/s826/Hot-Chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYK38GkVSFUslgqhD-4Ch3VznvZSlb1X7glmjOTYhav2Y0oF3_jAmuMQ1HVgM-UQGDNK2x8qfgoDWu_mPWckYBlQUai0lYWmdGrXnGxxjy2zyWAYcGtR2TP6fly_vw3NYk-8-SuHq_g0wHunr096GFZqs7_UpsNTtoWmjZJU2OnP9KyrAURK7Y_u81Q/s16000/Hot-Chocolate.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There's this little coffee shop a few blocks from my job. Not the Starbucks that always has a line around the block, just a quiet coffee shop. The kind where they've got tables and chairs but also a corner with rugs and beanbag chairs. It's got the warehouse lighting fixtures that hang down, the big bulbs are surrounded by little cages but they fill the place with that warm yellow light that's just perfect. <div><br /></div><div>I like hot chocolate, most people do. But, I can drink it year round and on a rough day, I seek it out. Inside, there's a few batistas, they don't have uniforms or name tags. It's not that kind of spot. There's a guy there, light skinned, super skinny, nappy afro and a lot of acne; he somehow looked 28 and 18 at the same time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Didn't matter if there was a line, or other baristas he always made my hot chocolate himself. We'd chat a little about anime or pro wrestling because he frequently wore shirts with references to each. Occasionally, he would compliment my skin. He'd always put an extra pump of caramel syrup in my hot chocolate. It's not something I requested, but he recommended it one day. I liked it, and from there, he just did it. One day, he was just gone. Probably was a student at the nearby college and graduated.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I drank my hot chocolate today after a morning full of meetings; I realized I missed him. Not just because he made my hot chocolate perfectly every time but because I did enjoy our conversations. It's been about two years since I've seen him, but I still remember the hot chocolate he would make for me. The watery hot chocolate I got today somehow reminded me, I couldn't remember his name.</div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-78162148158426169612023-06-21T12:00:00.004-04:002023-06-22T19:15:45.089-04:00El Camino <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx2J4xW1w219uzKdFHB3PxMwMKx0s2ynHi29HS18KzZmVDoB1vpixSNkcpQFBhC6ln1UQ59FDwaxRukPBUsSOFxOLfyDZQFlAoTZbS1kn-5stkA3ci34Vdd8V81zsVKMjwjz-qcJBFA36fhIqu7exAlzbO-iy_AHoHFQQ9PLzkrQ2mXT7J_lWB50/s640/El%20Camino%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx2J4xW1w219uzKdFHB3PxMwMKx0s2ynHi29HS18KzZmVDoB1vpixSNkcpQFBhC6ln1UQ59FDwaxRukPBUsSOFxOLfyDZQFlAoTZbS1kn-5stkA3ci34Vdd8V81zsVKMjwjz-qcJBFA36fhIqu7exAlzbO-iy_AHoHFQQ9PLzkrQ2mXT7J_lWB50/s16000/El%20Camino%201.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>One of my dream cars, has always been an El Camino. A mass produced affordable vehicle was my dream car? Yes. I remember seeing one on the way to King's Island as a kid and I was obsessed. It's like, a sports car engine, with a truck body and a station wagon frame. Suddenly, they've become collector's items during COVID. Prices have jumped up to 15K for a poorly cared for vehicle, and I've seen some going for over 50K. Another issue is a lot of them have been suped up to race and run into the ground.</div><div><br></div><div>Well, I periodically search for them, just to see what's up. I saw one in the city going for 10K in January but the photos weren't right and I had some questions. Milage listed is "1" and the dealer is like "It's an 88, no 88 has a working odometer," but there were no 88 Ep Caminos. Against my better judgement, I go check it out. The paint looks magnificent, beautiful tasteful rims fit for a classic, 5% tint so you can't see up in the windows. The interior is nothing short of, fucked up. Radio ripped out, holes in the seats, steering wheel missing the padding, just fucked up. Dealer won't let me start it, says "it is what it is means as is," his words. Despite wanting this car for over 20 years, I said "no." It's still sitting on that lot.</div><div><br></div><div>Early May, I see one in Ohio for sale from a private seller. Now, working at a credit union and doing hundreds of car loans a year, private sellers can be a gift, or a curse. On top of that, this one is selling for 7000. What's the catch? Well, it's got 141,000 miles on it, which is insane for some modern cars. But, a well taken car of V6 will run forever. It was purchased 2nd hand by a couple and they kept it for years. In 2020, the husband died. It sat in the garage for 3 years. It's had 2 accidents. It's had some "unique," modifications. It's also not the base model, or the popular SS, super sport, not nazi. It's the Conquista model. The interiors a little more luxurious, built for cruising not racing. Upside is it has power windows and locks. A basic feature now, but witchfraft for most back then as all El Caminos didn't come with those. The engine has had some upgrades, it's now dual exhaust, and I shit you not in the smuggler hatch, a hidden area behind the seat that's technically between the truck bed and frame, there are three house stereos. As in, these came straight out of someone's home. </div><div><br></div><div>I can't go to Ohio, but I speak to the son of the couple. Sounds like an honest guy. He sends me photos, videos, but there's one problem. It doesn't start. He promises me a white man's promise of, "for $1000 I'll get it running, and get it to you." Against my better judgement, I wire this white man $8,000. You know why banks and credit unions send checks? Because once a wire is sent, it's damn near impossible to get it back.</div><div><br></div><div>Two weeks go by, I don't hear anything from this man. I start to panic, my money is gone. This is the stupidest shit I've ever done. I stay on my family's ass about not falling for scams. I've taught a class on not falling for scams. I write the scam alert section of our newsletter at work. And I got gently fucked out of $8000.</div><div><br></div><div>The end of May rolls around. I get a call from some random number. Guy on the other end is super country, and says, "Connor got in some trouble with the law, but he wanted to make sure I got this truck to you." 2 days later a Tiny Lister looking fellow pulls up to my house while I'm cutting grass, says "some construction in the way, I got your El Camino at the church around the corner." Against my better judgement I get in the car with this complete stranger, Jesse. He big, I'm big. If he tries something, it's gonna be two big meaty men slapping meat in a construction zone. We pull up to this church, and his trailer is sitting there with my motherfucking El Camino. He tells me to go start it up and back it off the trailer. I never did that before, but fuck it. I hop my ass up on that trailer like Bobby Lashley in 2007. I'm tall, gotta duck a little to get in, but once I'm in, there's plenty of leg room and head space. The seats are mad comfortable, wheel feels good in your hands. It smells old, but the carpeted dash is plush. </div><div><br></div><div>I turn the key and the car doesn't start. I try again, nothing. In the way only an old Black man can, Jesse says, "you young boy's don't know shit about cars but rims and going fast," and laughs. </div><div><br></div><div>I know these cars don't have fuel injectors. But I never considered what that meant for starting it. He tells me, gas peddle to the floor, hold for 3 seconds, and turn the key as you slowly release. I'll be damned, that engine roared to life. Loudly, not messed up car loud, but there's a lot of power loud. I must have had the most pure look of joy on my face that a 31 year old man could have. Jesse starts smiling and laughing as and I find myself smacking the dashboard in celebration like I just won a race with the car. I put it in reverse and ease off the trailer. I attempted to pay Jesse for delivery but he said it was a favor to Connor who can't leave the state of Ohio.</div><div><br></div><div>Without a doubt, the car needs work. The power steering is gone, but that hasn't stopped me from driving it. There's some oil leaks but nothing where it's leaving puddles. It cost me $70 to fill up on gas. But dammit, I've been having a lot of fun with it. The paint is chipping, but it still gets plenty of looks and conversation. They had me stressed, but I'm really grateful for Connor, Jesse and even Connor's dad for taking care of the car for a very long time before his death. </div><div><br></div><div>When driving a car that old, the experience is just different. You really feel when it accelerates and slows down. There is no accidental speeding. It very much feels as if you're piloting a ton of metal through the streets. Corners are just smooth even with no power steering; it's as if you just float as you turn. I promise I'm getting the power steering fixed next week, I'm not going to Kevin Hart myself but for the last few weeks I've been taking little drives. Haven't gone further than 15 minutes away or over the speed of 45, but it's been so damn fun.</div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-21703032318334472282023-03-13T00:00:00.001-04:002023-03-13T00:00:00.424-04:00Mr. Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FlNOUGYF24144-xfzRMOt8yEp6p834cxBHAv-sg-k5RIwDIFm7Lj8Hh-NEly898y6VZQdF0zfHjKAdO6mKXYC9DrTgis4rhFw6NTUweoHqudhJ_HdDnoTY5WiLmvu0BkXnS_FFbTfUjWsvoPE_1UeYtfR7MJa6xlGoGYZVzWmUQFjI-9QlZqmpU/s826/Mr-Hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FlNOUGYF24144-xfzRMOt8yEp6p834cxBHAv-sg-k5RIwDIFm7Lj8Hh-NEly898y6VZQdF0zfHjKAdO6mKXYC9DrTgis4rhFw6NTUweoHqudhJ_HdDnoTY5WiLmvu0BkXnS_FFbTfUjWsvoPE_1UeYtfR7MJa6xlGoGYZVzWmUQFjI-9QlZqmpU/s16000/Mr-Hop.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>"Hey, I have to kill your rabbit," the demon hunter says bluntly.<div><br />"No," young Bobby tightly hugs the rabbit enclosure turning away.<br /><br /></div><div>"It's the only way."<br /><br /></div><div>"But why Mr. Hunter, why," tears now streaming down his face.<br /><br /></div><div>"Because you distracted me when I pulled the demon out of Old Man Grif. I didn't get it fast enough and now it's in your rabbit," Mr. Hunter has no tact.<br /><br /></div><div>"He's not possessed," Bobby argues.<br /><br /></div><div>"Andrew Tate did nothing wrong. Hustle hard. Get jacked, stop being a brokie," the rabbit gurgle out in a deep and gravely human voice.<br /><br /></div><div>"Okay," Bobby says, "maybe Mr. Hop is a little possessed. Why can't you just pull the demon out?"<br /><br /></div><div>"Tools are too big to use on a rabbit without killing it."<br /><br /></div><div>"I won't let you have my bunny," Bobby grips the cage tighter.<br /><br /></div><div>"Well, I tried," Mr. Hunter sighs, causing Bobby to loosen his grip on the cage. <br /><br /></div><div>Mr. Hunter packs up all of his gear and prepares to go. He digs deep into his pocket and pulls out a hand full of money. A $20, a $5 and and two $1 bills. "Yoink," Mr. Hunter shouts as he snatches the cage and begins to run. When Bobby screams Mr. Hunter throws the handful of money at him. "Buy a new rabbit," his voice fades as he runs out the front door.</div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-29359073301461432812023-02-01T19:53:00.002-05:002023-02-01T19:53:59.418-05:00Willie O'Ree - The First Black NHL Player<p>This year for Black History Month, <a href="http://12amfiction.com">Darrell</a> will provide us with 28 short videos about Black History and culture. More of the same content be found on his YouTube channel, <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh6HGdY2kPvak3odtrbagVw">Black Friday</a></b>. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IG7gYkEyIms" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></p><p>As of right now there are 23 Black players in the National Hockey League but have you heard of Willie O'Ree? The first Black man to play a game in The NHL. #BHM2023 </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMliDQPughV48hTUQ5E69o_1DPG2lS_iEDsGZNVlCHKksYLtXyWpTcqrVFsUincWqhXjQlWAsEXGLFJUxUA5cKUSareorV5k8rIiMibD1fpfDu5WoaNQUpUM_WyW7L1sSB6E0IAbjtG9abZXzQzAU4f1ycX_476fIpzH7XwqBunJDcka2TfN_3lmo/s1920/6.-End-Card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMliDQPughV48hTUQ5E69o_1DPG2lS_iEDsGZNVlCHKksYLtXyWpTcqrVFsUincWqhXjQlWAsEXGLFJUxUA5cKUSareorV5k8rIiMibD1fpfDu5WoaNQUpUM_WyW7L1sSB6E0IAbjtG9abZXzQzAU4f1ycX_476fIpzH7XwqBunJDcka2TfN_3lmo/s16000/6.-End-Card.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-5701960451371020672023-01-25T12:30:00.001-05:002023-01-25T12:30:00.219-05:00Black Friday #2 - WTF is Lee-Jackson-King Day<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TTOP109kaXU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I'm sure you know who Martin Luther King Jr is, and you likely know Robert E. Lee. So why do they share a day?</div><div><br /></div><div>Subscribe to Black Friday to learn more about Black history, past and present.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0gdYsmlRER_RN2BuIxfYK04qiZf4GwyjHIXMshZzpaCO8FsI_p6Y8RFASLqT9jwKIJpL24kuIRSDr4NJrmH9w7ekDxh0PJ742fsLYF878zqkFT8EQKwVTWMK3W-2ohAdkNgCTyRMf0U9dJOF95kqPM_DD6ClxTZ5NSzk6fm5T9IOo-wNMUgIHjc/s1920/King-Thumbnail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0gdYsmlRER_RN2BuIxfYK04qiZf4GwyjHIXMshZzpaCO8FsI_p6Y8RFASLqT9jwKIJpL24kuIRSDr4NJrmH9w7ekDxh0PJ742fsLYF878zqkFT8EQKwVTWMK3W-2ohAdkNgCTyRMf0U9dJOF95kqPM_DD6ClxTZ5NSzk6fm5T9IOo-wNMUgIHjc/s16000/King-Thumbnail.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-43636839224479627272023-01-22T01:25:00.005-05:002023-01-22T01:25:24.085-05:00Phantasmagorical<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnHGRtKJ5hTSFSL8PHps7nqAWMFALhEDYpWViUA2fHWsEGOX_X-oFaqdxvU2XbEW54oo0XumsWzfFepGnPEiWcjDcrkvZo0UcZE5HAhUue8DycShGP407JcruU15sLm-BajJdeH1I8LzdN8W9RbY_1QLKhCUhwONK4V2PajDc2hA5cuWaYXQloSY/s2400/Cover-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnHGRtKJ5hTSFSL8PHps7nqAWMFALhEDYpWViUA2fHWsEGOX_X-oFaqdxvU2XbEW54oo0XumsWzfFepGnPEiWcjDcrkvZo0UcZE5HAhUue8DycShGP407JcruU15sLm-BajJdeH1I8LzdN8W9RbY_1QLKhCUhwONK4V2PajDc2hA5cuWaYXQloSY/s320/Cover-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></p><p><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.4px;">Four strangers are forced to form bonds to escape captivity. Once escaping the mad man holding them for their awakening metahuman abilities they learn the that outside world has changed as much as they have. Will they be able to go back to normal life, or be forced to live as outcasts?</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.4px;">Devonte, Vivian, Jin and Orlando were abducted after witnessing an event that changed the evolution of humanity as we know it. The four are forced to form bonds in order to escape captivity. Once arriving back in the world they left behind they learn that chaos has descended on the outside world as well. With others awakening their metahuman abilities as well it is up to our survivors to bring peace in the midst of riots and fighting.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.4px;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;"><u>Buy The Book</u></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Phantasmagorical-Darrell-Shaffer-Jr-ebook/dp/B07HQG7HPS?ref_=ast_sto_dp">Amazon</a></span></div><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/898285">Smashwords</a></span></div></span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://brothasbooks.com/product/phantasmagorical/">Bothas Books</a></span></div></span></span></div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-19316435418166346092023-01-22T01:18:00.007-05:002023-01-26T00:06:18.938-05:00SWIFT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYh29XOEnCcIs3IqwsuxhxLu_uctnJQuq1hjDdcO9qR0Begzw1O6HItrj9C0oxyCq2RALf_eUaLCM63r1_fAe5uXNbDfeheq01oa6tXWXOsnUoFo7_lG7t8Xipy0O-OItCtK-as5Oo2YnF6Y8Fzf8TPyxrjXzTwAnM6l5ZzvtFbRI0616Am-wUYU/s3163/Swift-Print-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYh29XOEnCcIs3IqwsuxhxLu_uctnJQuq1hjDdcO9qR0Begzw1O6HItrj9C0oxyCq2RALf_eUaLCM63r1_fAe5uXNbDfeheq01oa6tXWXOsnUoFo7_lG7t8Xipy0O-OItCtK-as5Oo2YnF6Y8Fzf8TPyxrjXzTwAnM6l5ZzvtFbRI0616Am-wUYU/s16000/Swift-Print-Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Javon Swift is stuck in a bloody feud for the family business. His uncle Grady has married his mother before his father's body could go cold. Tiffany is a police officer claiming that his father was a confidential informant, and wants him to follow the leader. His best friends are trying to build their own drug empire. It doesn't help that he's fallen in love and has a crooked police officer trying to extort him for his father's hidden stash of money.<div><br /></div><div>All this is going on while Javon is quickly losing track of who he is. He wants out of the drug game, but the only career path in front of him is that of a snitch, a role he doesn't want to play. If he's out, he's going to lose his friends, and he has nowhere to turn. To survive it all, he'll need to go places he's never gone before, and do things he didn't think he was capable of. The question is how far he can go, before he stops recognizing himself?</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Buy The Book</span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/SWIFT-Darrell-Shaffer-Jr-ebook/dp/B088NPVH1F?ref_=ast_sto_dp">Amazon</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1055460">SmashWords</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://brothasbooks.com/product/swift-the-miseducation-of-javon/">Brothas Books</a></span></div></div><p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-36235818079766127942023-01-21T22:00:00.001-05:002023-03-02T22:10:43.343-05:00Ultra Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf14l8oLk0EbWOB6EZb57uwL4JJNCxb5zlgthLpQJnNkqPdrxk3Wk3sT2w_vEpnQJLpNgR80_q-FRLKHrHl_bDgfT5qE9xFVG8fkuRuSPeInpqx4o9v4ZASDoOzNCtpPRmRCWD2AKNvlD-aG_VpB-z0yUrClGgaTy8V-Y0IFFdZHngWwOmc-crkc/s2560/Ultra-Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf14l8oLk0EbWOB6EZb57uwL4JJNCxb5zlgthLpQJnNkqPdrxk3Wk3sT2w_vEpnQJLpNgR80_q-FRLKHrHl_bDgfT5qE9xFVG8fkuRuSPeInpqx4o9v4ZASDoOzNCtpPRmRCWD2AKNvlD-aG_VpB-z0yUrClGgaTy8V-Y0IFFdZHngWwOmc-crkc/s16000/Ultra-Black.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
You should watch some youtube videos on Black History that I make. I don't even know how you got to this page, it should redirect to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh6HGdY2kPvak3odtrbagVw">Black Friday on YouTube</a><br />
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Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-48610107588653060042023-01-21T21:57:00.001-05:002023-01-21T21:57:29.701-05:00Virtual Vagabonds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOYIH6aqjUXBJoagmdcOnzEWetdqqoG1lr4I7BCgz_PheCJxnSvvv_u8Sc7Np7DYn4-g1vussZErI-YSPJPT8oleQWFuejzKBriGqWDvDlTZ9xDRxraMwiLTV6wyXJzl34PvuZQW75l16g-_lBuW0LpXO7iOjIPaFDVr5VefNggZO9eojTJTBgmQ/s2560/Big-Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOYIH6aqjUXBJoagmdcOnzEWetdqqoG1lr4I7BCgz_PheCJxnSvvv_u8Sc7Np7DYn4-g1vussZErI-YSPJPT8oleQWFuejzKBriGqWDvDlTZ9xDRxraMwiLTV6wyXJzl34PvuZQW75l16g-_lBuW0LpXO7iOjIPaFDVr5VefNggZO9eojTJTBgmQ/s16000/Big-Banner.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
You should read Virtual Vagabonds, a new web serial. I don't even know how you got to this page, it should have redirected you to <a href="https://virtualvagabonds.12amfiction.com/">virtualvagabonds.12amfiction.com</a><br />
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Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-48889396703649035252023-01-14T12:30:00.001-05:002023-01-14T12:30:00.217-05:00Black Friday - Arthur Ashe<p> I've been working another project which is why chapters have been delayed, sorry. I'll be back on point next week. For now, enjoy what I've been working on.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_u0EgtyvaRI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Do you know who Arthur Ashe is? Do you know how Magic Johnson changed his life? What about how he helped to change South Africa? Don't worry, we got you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Subscribe to Black Friday to learn more about Black history, past and present.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/_u0EgtyvaRI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8R5dONxuiFB_qj7kN4Af81rxjiW1nS6WJhfXYvHOjnsaqBaURv8W_bV1A4Pqsa__ShRzjH8tX3parA7RRhYHs7BWxD9OKSM9QOuULyFM3OdzdRQ31DOpZJ8k6HeExa1ZS4-uGalgnIvoYD59DNpx4869WTjQEk6lIKtSUUrO07zcbJuRolK86No/w640-h360/Thumbnail.png" width="640" /></a></div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-21678800062907171912022-05-13T00:00:00.004-04:002022-05-13T00:00:00.226-04:00[Sustentation] Chapter 9 - Kareem - The Noose<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Wesley hasn’t avoided me for the last week or so. He’s been
more aggressive, but conflicted about something. He’ll join me for a movie, but
get up half way through or only watch for the ending. He’s not going to church
or class every day. On occasion, I can hear him arguing with himself. Just
going back and forth with himself over some guy. I’ve started to wonder if it
was my fault, if I broke him. The whole vampire thing, and the dead body. I
haven’t exactly eased him into my life. Sometimes father will say that I’m
strong and can’t force others to be bred and raised the same way I was. I can’t
expect others to make the same choices and react the same way I do. He’s not
reacting well to what I’ve done, or maybe he was always like this. I didn’t pay
much attention to him before he saw the body and started trying to kill me. No,
he wasn’t like this. I broke him, ruined him like everything else. Nothing I
can do now but wait. He’ll either kill himself, someone else or I’ll kill him
in self-defense. It might be easier to just, do it myself. No, he talks to his
family all the time, they’ll be worried if he suddenly vanishes. I have to
remember to ask the next roommate about family ties. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m thinking about this too much, a movie should take my
mind off it all. <i>Casino</i> is an underrated classic. People go so far as
calling it a copy of <i>Goodfellas</i> or saying it can’t compare to <i>Mean
Streets</i> but it has a charm that belongs to nothing else. It doesn’t just
tell a story, but focuses on the history of the characters as the city. It has
similarities to <i>Goodfellas</i> but it’s more evolved, and refined. It’s a
beautiful film. <i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But I can’t seem to enjoy it right now since Wesley is
arguing with himself again. Odd, because it’s 3am and he should be asleep by
now, even crazy people have to tire themselves out sometime. But it sounds like
it’s coming from outside, the neighbors won’t like that. I better go get him
inside. Do I need to bring a blanket? I always see firefighters and paramedics
give out blankets. He’ll be fine without one.<i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He’s easy to spot, right outside the kitchen window in
nothing but his underwear. I always laugh when there’s a grown man wearing
tighty whities in a film. I don’t know why; they just seem like something you
stop wearing when you stop being a kid. Wesley keeps yelling at himself, name
calling mostly as he struggles with a rope. I’m not sure what he’s doing until
he holds the end up. Tying a noose, or trying. He pulls at it with his hands,
testing it, until it easily comes apart. Soon he’s trying again. Wes this,
Wesley that the argument continues. He’s trying to kill himself, and he’s going
to be sloppy about it too. I can just let him do it. That’ll solve my problem.
He just looks so pathetic, trying to tie a noose the same way over and over
again, just to get the same results. He’s got all the enthusiasm of someone who
never really tried to kill themselves. A black man trying to hang himself, he’s
not even thinking about this. There’re easier ways to do it than a janky noose.
Gunshot to the heart, slitting your wrist, jumping off a tall building. He doesn’t
seem to care for pain so a cocktail of random pills, intentional drug overdose.
I’ve tried it all but he’s not a vampire, so he should be just fine. If fine
means he’ll be dead.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After thirty minutes of watching, he finally gives up on the
noose and ties the rope around his neck before making a knot that satisfies
him. He spends the next fifteen minutes clawing at the tree, slipping down over
and over again as he tries to make it to the top. He should have tied the rope
once he got in the tree and made sure he knew how to climb a tree. Another
fifteen minutes passes with him sitting in the dirt, arguing with himself about
why the tree was a bad idea. Wesley hops to his feet and rushes over to the
shed, tossing objects around, still dragging the rope behind him. I’m hoping he
chooses something messy, like a nail gun, or chainsaw. In the end, he settles
on a ladder. He tests the length and easily ties it to a tree branch. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m forced to watch as he struggles, kicking his legs in the
air. The goal of hanging is to snap the neck, not a slow and painful death,
he’ll pop his head off like this. I’m reminded of a puppy I had named Micro. It
was right after the whole vampirism thing kicked in. I had bitten a stray cat,
because I was thirsty and didn’t know why, but my body told me if I bit the
cat, I’d be satisfied and I was. When she found it, she beat me. I was so used
to the beatings at that point that I didn’t care. One day, while I was on my
way to school, she took Micro and tied his leash to a radiator, then tossed him
out the window. I watched as he tried to bark and break free. By the time broke
down the front door and made it upstairs, he was already dead. I didn’t go to
school that day or anymore after that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can see blood starting to cover his neck as Wesley claws
at the rope. He really did choose a terrible way to die. He hasn’t looked in
this direction the entire time I’ve been watching, but now it feels like he’s
staring right at me. Asking for help, but can’t get the words out. I wonder if
Micro knew I was trying to save him. I hope he didn’t spend his last moments
thinking I had abandoned him. Maybe it’s a good thing Micro died. His life
wasn’t ruined by knowing me anymore. I haven’t thought about Micro in years.
Maybe Wesley isn’t the only person going insane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t do it, I can’t let him die even if it
would solve my own problems. Why can’t I let him die? I never cared about
anyone dying before, I killed people. Fuck.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t rush out the back door, and I’m not in a hurry to
get to him either. I’m still conflicted over the whole thing. As I get closer,
I’m watching him jerk and kick towards me. I don’t know if he wants my help
because he’s afraid to die or if he’s trying to keep me away from him. He’s
running out of energy; he won’t die soon but he’ll pass out. I step back when
he kicks me in the head, watching, waiting. I don’t know why. I’m reminded of
the scene in <i>The Green Mile</i> when everyone just watched as they knew an
innocent man was being executed. <i>The Green Mile</i>, that’s so basic, is
that all I can think of? Wesley’s fighting less, more swinging and trying to
keep the rope from closing on his neck than anything else. Occasionally he
kicks out. I can’t help but laugh when I realize he’s trying to get back on the
ladder. I suppose he does want to live. I climb the ladder, and place my hand
between the noose and his scratched bloody neck. One quick yank and the rope is
broken, there’s a thud as Wesley hits the ground. He’s knocked out, but still
breathing. I nudge him a few times with my foot but he doesn’t wake up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I lift him up into my arms and carry him inside, for a
moment I think about dropping him on the couch but he’s dirty, sweaty and
smells bad. I watch movies on that couch. Instead, I carry him up the stairs to
his bedroom. He keeps whispering about angels saving him. Delusions of a mad
man, there are no angels in this house, only devils. As I place him on the bed,
he strokes my cheek repeatedly despite me pulling away.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Stop touching me, I don’t like to be touched,” I smack his
barely awake hand away from my face.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Looking at him now, he’s pitiful looking. I should have left
him there to die and saved both of us some time. If he hadn’t kept fighting,
and just gave in this could all be done by now. Maybe my mother did Micro a
favor when she made sure he wouldn’t need to keep living in this world. I could
have done that same favor for Wesley.<o:p></o:p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-14167177251321996692022-05-09T12:00:00.015-04:002022-05-09T12:00:00.364-04:00Use Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXZuAq2104JYdFMCuQaJXBUlO3yw8_EB0RIFYMSsRJZLROdq0NpHhV7kY7sT6HSa7voNO9bqFlThzNlLXOxy7zrntbL27-Ym0iIsI76WvavOiogTq5sQ_SZ9NUTnDyubtrbrefREVzmRBdBqN4JHk8oRIuBB4xwYMHMLf4gPX1NUUUCKsqAkfwG6Y=s826" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXZuAq2104JYdFMCuQaJXBUlO3yw8_EB0RIFYMSsRJZLROdq0NpHhV7kY7sT6HSa7voNO9bqFlThzNlLXOxy7zrntbL27-Ym0iIsI76WvavOiogTq5sQ_SZ9NUTnDyubtrbrefREVzmRBdBqN4JHk8oRIuBB4xwYMHMLf4gPX1NUUUCKsqAkfwG6Y=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><p>"The High Kith have no morals. All they care about is decadence. Nothing matters except what they want. Wait and see. She will try to use you."</p><p>"I want her to."</p><p>"What?"</p><p>"I want her to use in me. I want to be used by anyone. Any use, that anyone would find for me would be fine. Instead I am supposed to wait around in filth like some peasant because father has no plans for me in the future. No, she uses me, and I enjoy it. I do not care if she views me as some play thing, some toy to be discarded when she has had her fun. At least, she will use me and I will know the joys of having been used."</p><p>"You are sick!"</p><p>"I am sick brother, I am sick of the world having nothing for me. I am not able to fight in war, father does not see me as worthy to operate one of his stores. I am not smart enough to be an academic but far to smart to victim some labor racket. I am too distraught and overwhelmed to be a poet, yet too free to fall victim to the addiction. There is no place in this society for me. Yet, she has made a place for me at her side. Even if she were to abandon me today, at least I have known love. At least my life has been shown some sort of value. Even if fleeting, I have been used, and I have been loved. For you, who has been loved since birth, you have no right to shame those of us seeking but a taste of what you find ordinary."<br /></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-11426146208894236642022-05-06T00:00:00.042-04:002022-05-06T00:00:00.209-04:00Radio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwJtoHqM_tlvfd08chlbhUUFJJ7FWDiEKNRYf6ppJyWuKSgtJKbYX0MfZ9capLDhJeOg2MBJW7axt6mxoNJooqxgNczbBahqB5WlqJ-y2BalWhiGyuCmhX3pemmh6s3kjEo_MJtlSv7pQAoPtAyxJMDXkLUU9U1ZYKkRO5Db6w-dJYcDlcL0BqfMA=s826" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwJtoHqM_tlvfd08chlbhUUFJJ7FWDiEKNRYf6ppJyWuKSgtJKbYX0MfZ9capLDhJeOg2MBJW7axt6mxoNJooqxgNczbBahqB5WlqJ-y2BalWhiGyuCmhX3pemmh6s3kjEo_MJtlSv7pQAoPtAyxJMDXkLUU9U1ZYKkRO5Db6w-dJYcDlcL0BqfMA=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><p>The old station seems to be in good condition. It's dusty and most of the glass is gone. It's been stripped of anything the wanderers feel is useful, but nothing seems to be broken. When we flipped the power switch, we were certain the whole place would just explode. We crossed the wasteland for days searching for this place. Faced off with nomads, fled from the corps and most of all survived. If this station wasn't in working condition, or didn't exist, I might have put a bullet in my own my skull and one for Ratface too.</p><p>"Hey, we should play this one, or maybe this one," Ratface scrolls through a list of songs.</p><p>"Just pick a song, it's not like we've ever heard any of these old tunes."</p><p>I wipe away some of the dust on the old pilots chair. It squeaks as I sit in it, putting weight on it for the first time in decades, maybe even centuries. I'm not a historian. I wipe away the dust on the control panel, just barely able to read the old faded writing with instructions, labels and arrows. I flick the switch to go live across the airwaves. We'll be the first radio station in Neo Kitcham that isn't owned by a corporation. The only reason Farriver Corp didn't chase us further is because we're out of their boundaries. They didn't want to spark another war. They won't come here without weeks of negotiations and we'll know they're coming then.</p><p>"Hello Neo Kitcham," I speak into the microphone, pausing for a response.</p><p>"You can't hear them respond," Ratface says.</p><p>"Shut it. I know that, I was just thinking what to say."</p><p>"Tell them we're here to play old tunes and rile the people up with some illegal talk radio."</p><p>"Well you just told them since we're on the air."</p><p>"Cool. Here's some tunes. 'Jet Black Beauty' by Venom Johnson," Ratface presses play.</p><p>"How do we know it worked?"</p><p>"We just wait to see if anyone contacts us on The Nexus." <br /></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-82943765466267226502022-05-02T00:00:00.006-04:002022-05-02T00:00:00.201-04:00Light Seekers #23 – Ukukhanya<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt4QlPwC-4VsdFQufdeImYRq_SZPd29a-2dgzo8O0za1Axo5ofGXX4arGKn1uxopE9lZ3c4mfUVeWc_PCXbJm6yTZumkhr4VNgxY8ADqENXe0HFM3Pi29nQHvdUAc0cExVxyzeyfTlgmeL9-gELxxQ-J_JvnzE36hB9CmoMwqhcgEcBcxk9_--vI4=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt4QlPwC-4VsdFQufdeImYRq_SZPd29a-2dgzo8O0za1Axo5ofGXX4arGKn1uxopE9lZ3c4mfUVeWc_PCXbJm6yTZumkhr4VNgxY8ADqENXe0HFM3Pi29nQHvdUAc0cExVxyzeyfTlgmeL9-gELxxQ-J_JvnzE36hB9CmoMwqhcgEcBcxk9_--vI4=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Jabez’s mother died last night. Nobody came to attack us,
check on us. Three of The Seven remained, they joined me and stood outside the
room last night. I’m not sure if they remembered their sense of duty or there
was some kind of internal rivalry. That’s not for me to know or care about.
When she died we didn’t waste time planning for a burial. The remaining members
of The Seven began to build a pyre, I joined them. I didn’t know what else to
do, and I didn’t want to intrude on Jabez’s final goodbye with his mother. As
he brought her towards the pyre, the sky glistened with what I now know are
stars. A bright white silver disc called the moon shined across the sky as her
body burned. None of us spoke, none of us left. We watched the flames. As they
started to go out The Three retreated to the temple. Jabez refused to move so I
stayed with him. It was the only thing I could do to provide some form of
comfort.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve never seen a sunrise before, but I felt hope as I
watched it rise over the hills. Slowly the sky went from black to orange and
finally a bright blue. It’s more than what I imagined it would be like. I’d
never seen so much light in my life. The sun, moon and stars. To think there
were so many people who never saw any of them before. It really is a brand-new
day for everyone. This is what I wanted. I wanted the sunlight to spread around
the world, and I’ve got it. But it feels like I lost.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nothing positive has come yet, nothing that I can see. I see
two things in front of me. I see a man who was reunited with his mother,
grieving her death before they could truly embrace each other. More than that,
I see my friend in pain, and I don’t know how to help him besides sitting in
the grass next to him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Where are you going,” Jabez breaks the silence.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Nowhere.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“After this. You can’t stay here forever.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Probably check on Levi. What about you?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t know. All I ever wanted was to get back here but
there’s nothing. No mother, no amazing temple, no hidden cities, and no
science. It was all a lie.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You can come with me. We can go get Levi, then travel the
world. It’s a new world out there, and you’ve got a lot to offer people.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I can’t do that to you, everywhere I go, everything I care
about comes to an end.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m not afraid.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You should be. I’m not sure why you haven’t run away yet.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Because we’re friends,” I wrap an arm around his shoulder,
“and friends take care of each other.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Is that what friends do?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s exactly what they do.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Then I promise not cause you any pain.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, can you not do the super thoughtful thing right now.
Let’s just watch the sunrise. I’ve never seen one before.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“They’re beautiful.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“They sure are.”<o:p></o:p></p><p></p><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">[Previous Chapter] [<a href="https://www.12amfiction.com/p/light-seekers-table-of-contents.html">Table of Contents</a>] [<a href="http://twitter.com/originalkingd">Twitter</a>] [<a href="https://exsanguinate.12amfiction.com/p/table-of-contents.html">Exsanguinate</a>] [<a href="https://www.12amfiction.com/p/intercosmic.html">Intercosmic</a>] [Next Chapter]</div></div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-91103307012210058672022-04-29T00:00:00.006-04:002022-04-29T00:00:00.201-04:00Light Seekers #22 – Nur<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGM-XuzvjG8G_k-KcDjg4iDs7yYsyi-3u6sJV09Ivv2nStzG2g5__bWQP_pl96rf168Zs90E827jvkOzfR5fR58qP2soB__4ASgOcmZRmvGPno3V8OLHPC9qUnsalc0j6VjRCnwDMj1btdelMyV1OkXJTC7rKSBBGfnheQqwnXZd7LIOC093VYRug=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGM-XuzvjG8G_k-KcDjg4iDs7yYsyi-3u6sJV09Ivv2nStzG2g5__bWQP_pl96rf168Zs90E827jvkOzfR5fR58qP2soB__4ASgOcmZRmvGPno3V8OLHPC9qUnsalc0j6VjRCnwDMj1btdelMyV1OkXJTC7rKSBBGfnheQqwnXZd7LIOC093VYRug=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Silence fills the air as we all stare at the rubble that
used to be the tower. The sunlight that beamed down on it is fading away and
growing brighter up above us. I rush over and start moving pieces of stone.
Jabez is frozen in shock, but I’m sure he wouldn’t want his mother to die. I
understand why Jabez is in shock, to be away from his mother for so long, only
to lose her as soon as they reunite. Before a real reunion, I’d be frozen if I
were in place. The seven don’t budge to help. They look on and watch as the sun
is growing weaker, occasionally sharing a glance at each other. I feel like I’m
not making any progress but I keep digging.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hear Benedict shout again, causing me to turn around.
Chaos has broken out. The Seven are fighting against each other. They’re
fighting against Jabez. I’m not sure why they’re all fighting but the light is
growing feinter so I keep digging. She wouldn’t have been at the bottom of the
tower, I climb up the rubble hoping that she’s near the top of the pile. The
battle below is getting fierce. The Seven are down to five. Jabez is a wild
card, attacking anything that comes near him, but The Seven seemed to be more
focused on each other.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I find a hand poking through and keep digging. I’m on the right
path, and keep clearing rubble as they fight behind me. A few more stones and
I’m able to see her face. It’s like Jabez’s, but prettier, even covered in dirt
and rubble. Her body seems to give off light, as feint as it may be right now.
I keep digging until she’s free, occasionally checking to make sure she’s still
breathing. I carry her down the rubble and place her on an empty spot in the
yard. She doesn’t have any injuries that I can see, and there’s no blood. But
even now she doesn’t seem to be waking up, nor does she seem to be in any pain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I scan the field for Jabez and find him lying on the ground.
The only fighters that remain are Benedict and another of The Seven. It doesn’t
last long as Benedict begins to shout again, which should bring an end to the
fight, but Benedict continues to shout. I watch as Jabez forces himself to his
feet and limps towards Benedict. I know what’s coming before it happens. The
same move that brought me down, the move I’ve watched bring down others. At
least I thought I knew what was coming. Jabez jumps, and wraps his hands around
Benedict’s head from behind. Benedict screams out in pain, but Jabez refuses to
let him go. The screaming stops, but Jabez doesn’t let go. I’m not sure if his
magic can kill a person, but the neck snap that follows Benedict’s silence
probably could.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jabez makes his way over, not looking towards me. He kneels
and holds his mother’s hand. She doesn’t wake up, but she doesn’t stop
breathing either. He struggles to lift her, so I grab her legs and lift. I’m
not sure where we’re going, but I follow his lead. Eventually we find a bed to
lie her on, hoping that it’ll help her wake up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Please take care of my son,” a voice comes through in my
head. It doesn’t take much for me to realize it’s Jabez’s mother speaking. “He
likes you, he called you a friend. Even when I knew him, he never had many
friends. If he had a friend like you, we may not have come down this road.
Although I’m glad we did because he finally has someone to lean on. Someone to
provide him with the care that I could not. Promise, you will always be his
friend.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I promise,” I don’t have the courage to say, think,
anything else to a dying woman.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know what she says to Jabez, but he cries and holds
her body. This moment isn’t for me to watch. I take this as my opportunity to
leave. Gather some water, maybe any pain medicine I can find. I glance out to
the yard on my way back. Benedict is dead for sure but a few of the other seven
are moving now. Probably unaware of what is happening. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I return Jabez is still holding his mother’s hand,
sitting in a chair by the bed now. His eyes are closed, but I can tell he’s
awake. She’s still breathing, but the two don’t move. I’m sure they’re having
some kind of deep conversation. I’ve got no right to hear. For now, I take up
position by the door. The least I can do is try to protect them if one of the
seven were to attack now.</p></div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-72473543923925919122022-04-25T00:00:00.005-04:002022-04-25T00:00:00.218-04:00Light Seekers #21 – Malamalama<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgTFZEXG6Nu73xfG7u0bQmwIzgjoH30ti2UCwHAH69s5zVWs-2bGoIT8UlEiTxQb5tXQH-vtLLbHre56wo5y89P6qlk25AzeU1cDT7ZbNiOGWGF3w-Fo51qF7A9icznEKtYPIbjCz3I2bNWGgdsAle5zZ7-wxauG_u4y3bHeuipaBxqA-dHvBUqSI=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgTFZEXG6Nu73xfG7u0bQmwIzgjoH30ti2UCwHAH69s5zVWs-2bGoIT8UlEiTxQb5tXQH-vtLLbHre56wo5y89P6qlk25AzeU1cDT7ZbNiOGWGF3w-Fo51qF7A9icznEKtYPIbjCz3I2bNWGgdsAle5zZ7-wxauG_u4y3bHeuipaBxqA-dHvBUqSI=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">We’re led to a massive yard in the middle of the day. It’s
surprisingly warm, probably some kind of magic. Everything is beyond my scope
at this point. I’m just strapped in on Jabez’s wild ride. There’s no pomp and
circumstance, the seven await us. No sign of a queen, but the sun is shining
down on a tower on the other side of the yard. If what I’ve been told is true, I
imagine she’s up there watching the whole thing. The only way I’ve thought
about bringing back the sun is killing her, and I’m not about to kill her, so
all I can do is follow along. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Jabez, bringer of pain, taker of light and Najar, seer of
all,” not sure when I got an epithet or they learned what kind of magic I used.
“you will be fighting two of the seven,” one of the robed seven speaks. “Do we
have volunteers to fight?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I volunteer,” the loud one from the other night speaks up.
Jabez expected him. “Benedict, the voice,” he speaks loudly, and proud of
himself. He tosses the robe aside. He’s a tall, athletic man, long face and
thin lips. He stands before us wearing black boots and a dark purple pair of
pants. A mask is hooked onto the chains he’s using as a belt. What is with all
the chains? He removes the mask from his waist and fits it over his head.
Twisted screaming mouths cover the surface of his mask. It doesn’t take a
sorcerer to figure out his magic is yelling really loud and making things
break.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll join him,” another steps forward, her robe dropping to
the ground. “Maryanne the many,” they’re really big on nicknames around here. I
can’t help but laugh at it despite the seriousness of the situation. Maryanne
is already wearing her mask which appears to just be a cube, with each side
displaying the same face with a different emotion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You have thirty minutes to prepare,” the speaker for the
seven explains. Everyone leaves the field except the four of us who’ll be
fighting.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s the plan,” I ask Jabez.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Put these in your ear,” he hands me what looks to be
chipped candle wax that’s barely solid.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What is this?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Candle wax, it’ll keep Benedict from destroying your ears,”
I knew it was candle wax.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Okay, and what else?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Just go with it,” he begins to stare at the tower receiving
so much of the sun’s light. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thirty minutes passes by quickly, Jabez stares at the tower
without blinking the entire time. The sorcerers seem to just be having a fun
time. Then there’s me, doing the stretches I learned in the Dojo, preparing for
a fight. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Mom is going to help us,” Jabez says eagerly as he straps
on his mask.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“She’s up in the tower, she reads minds. We’ll be able to
talk without hearing. I’ll take Maryanne, you take Benedict.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That makes no sense to me at all.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Does any of this make sense,” I can imagine Jabez smiling
beneath his mask. I realize I had already put the candle wax into my ears. I really
am hearing him in my head. “Yeah, you are,” I actually hear him laugh.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A bell is rung from high up above. I’m unaware that was the
sign to begin fighting until I spot Maryanne running directly at me. Jabez
slams into her leaving Benedict open to me. I start with a throwing knife which
he shouts out of the air. The wax keeps my ears safe, but I can feel the force
behind the shout. I wonder if he can do a continuous shout or if he can only do
short bursts. I think he needs to get close before he can shout. He also needs
to take a deep breath before he can do it. I’m a lot faster than him, so I’m
trying to tire him out. On the opposite end, if I get too tired, he’s strong
enough to take me out. We’re at a stalemate, neither of us can really hurt the
other. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I glance over to Maryanne and Jabez. He’s having a tougher
time. She’s multiplied herself, there’s five now. He’s surrounded, stuck on
defense as they take turns attacking. It takes me only a glance to determine
which one is real. We need to switch. Her magic won’t work on me and he’s
reckless enough to get close to Benedict. Alright, I can do this.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I alter my path and start to run towards Jabez, I hope this
works. “We need to switch opponents,” I think as loud as a I can.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Whenever you’re read,” I hear him respond clear as day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I launch a throwing knife at the real Maryanne as we get
close, catching her off guard. By the time she’s turned to see me I’ve already
left my feet to tackle her. I’m not as good a fighter as Jabez but he’s beaten
me on the ground so often that Maryanne is no match for me as we wrestle. The
two of us struggle before I manage to place my knife at her throat.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Please yield,” I ask her.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I yield,” she responds surrendering.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Enough,” Benedict’s voice shakes the ground, I can hear it through
the wax this time. Maryanne covers her ears in pain from his shout. Jabez is
flung across the field as Benedict approaches him. I glance at Maryanne and
take off towards Benedict tossing the last of my throwing knives. He’s not
looking at me and they pierce through his back. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Benedict lets loose a massive shout that doesn’t seem to end
as he goes back and forth between Jabez and I. The wax does nothing and the
shout drops me to my knees. I’m torn between wanting to die and keeping my body
together. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>He only stops when the massive tower holding Jabez’s mother
starts to shake and crack. The chaos from only moments ago comes to an end as
pieces of the tower start to drop. I can’t hear anything but I can see the
faces of everyone watching as the tower begins to fall. <p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-20772814523627141002022-04-22T00:00:00.005-04:002022-04-22T00:00:00.205-04:00Light Seekers #20 – Solas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs_a_EIiSXT5TjAI-Gh3dxECGkcKAM3bTZiOwcQGmmpMQVMhM4RuNBBBlBa2nWzH05fND7bK6_pjw6si4xcOcQTO50eAR1cHPUwFUuDRXVbjd95WTUJpqZNrV88YB7FBmpq16ylB8F4v8jLnIc7CEKIBWuW-y_MryH4vssfXqcvgkQGMQasOyoGFw=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs_a_EIiSXT5TjAI-Gh3dxECGkcKAM3bTZiOwcQGmmpMQVMhM4RuNBBBlBa2nWzH05fND7bK6_pjw6si4xcOcQTO50eAR1cHPUwFUuDRXVbjd95WTUJpqZNrV88YB7FBmpq16ylB8F4v8jLnIc7CEKIBWuW-y_MryH4vssfXqcvgkQGMQasOyoGFw=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The door closes to our room leaving Jabez and I alone for
the first time since we entered the temple. A table with various fruit and
drinks is waiting for us in case we were hungry. I take a seat at the table,
but don’t eat or drink. I just wait for Jabez to start talking, but he doesn’t
say anything. He takes a seat on one of the beds and stretches out as if he’s
tired after a long day of work. It’s as if he has no intentions of explaining
what happened or why I need to get prepared for a fight that I didn’t know was
coming.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Explain everything, from the start,” I break the silence. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Which start,” he asks staring down at his mask.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The start.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“There’s more than one start to this story.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Then start at the first one,” I’m growing irritated with
him. “You pick now of all times to start telling jokes.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Sorry, just nerves.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Now you’re nervous?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“My whole life has been leading up this moment, I’m beyond
nervous.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Now you see how I feel when you just do crazy stuff,
except, this is because you did something crazy.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m sorry. I’ve just been so focused on one thing for so
long.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you going to tell me why you’re the taker of light
despite being the same age as me?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Alright, this is a lot.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, I’d like to hear a good story before I die.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We’re not going to die.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I throw my hands in the air, “just tell the story.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Alright, remember how I told you the sorcerers had their
own little city on the mountain?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, I remember.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, it’s governed by a coven of seven sorcerers and a
queen.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The seven we met earlier.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That’s right. Anyway, the queen is my mother. One of my
mothers,” he gently taps his fist on his chin for a moment. “Well, she was
ruling the city, and then I was born. It really was a painful birth, three days
of labor for a young queen. I never knew my father. From what I learned later,
someone had him killed. Doesn’t matter. It was a pretty normal childhood and I
learned to use my magic. I’m good now, but back then, I had reached the rank of
sorcerer before twenty-five. I was called the chosen one, the one that would
bring the greatest era to the world.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“If you were 25 when the sun was around, why are you so much
younger now?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m getting to that,” I just signal for him to keep going.
“By the time I was 40 my mother had begun to get sick. I was studying dark
magic, trying to heal her anyway that I could. I discovered a procedure that
would save her. I just need an energy source.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The sun.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The sun, and it worked. For maybe fifteen years, she didn’t
age, but the sun grew duller and duller. She was taking all the suns energy.
That little bit of light cast out into the world is all she can do to rectify
the situation. Eventually, the she learned what I had done. She did the right
thing, had me excommunicated.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That doesn’t explain everything.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m getting there. On the night I was to be excommunicated,
the seven decided it would be best if I was just murdered. They chose Rosa to
do the job, she was an expert with hand-to-hand combat and assassination. She
claimed she had been an assassin before learning about her magic. Her magic was
actually time. She faked my murder, but I didn’t get off free. I was aged back,
way back.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“A baby.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“A baby. I didn’t remember any of what I just told you. Rosa
took me away from here, raised me as her own. She didn’t tell me what happened
until they started trying to kill us when I was around thirteen. She started
teaching me to fight, use my magic. Around 15 they killed her, and I managed to
flee. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I have a very distinct look. That’s
why I always wear the mask, because I never know who’s watching. After Rosa
died, I spent the next 3 years learning to fight harder, and plotting my
revenge. Then you showed up in my life.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That night in the alley, I was going to ask you to help me.
I realized I spent so long on my own, I never knew how to really speak to other
people. So, we ended up fighting. Your friend Levi, he told me what you were
doing in the city. While you were passed out, he agreed to watch my apartment
while we went off. He said you didn’t think things through so it’d be easy to
get you to come.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You played me.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, and I’m sorry about that. I should have just asked
you to come with me, but I didn’t know how. I actually do view you as a friend,
my first real friend. Hell, my only friend,” he stands up and turns his back to
me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I believe him. It sounds crazy as any other story I’ve heard
about the light; the sun and what sorcerers do up here. But as he moves his
arms to wipe his face, his story is a little more real than the others. It’s
more than the something he made up like the story earlier. I don’t want to
fight, but he is a friend. A lying and manipulating friend, but a friend.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Can you stop crying? It’s freaking me out.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ve never done this before, I don’t know why I can’t
stop,” he laughs through the tears.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Do you want, a, hug,” I don’t know how to comfort people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Sure.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I meet him halfway for a hug, we embrace, and instantly
burst into laughter. “I guess we don’t have that kind of friendship,” I punch
him in the shoulder.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I stopped crying, so I guess it worked. I really am sorry
about dragging you into all of this.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I chose to go on this little adventure of mine with no real
direction. I knew something crazy had to happen.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, we’re about to do something even crazier.”<o:p></o:p></p><p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-11070430019277486572022-04-18T00:00:00.005-04:002022-04-18T00:00:00.197-04:00Light Seekers #19 – Светлый<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJqtTy3F9hysXE46C0Uf9WFjKg78r9NXplZohaKeBSFs5X1Adavk0zYZFmoAlFl5fkICgFJ9qbxHt9tmXJlm_TIjCXPqXro6x1b99j1xgNwq78ooNHALsLpTZor17rm0np2xa_i6g8SzX9DAbTPqY_GcApVzhzWEPLVjQdqgzj5VzSMUmC_l7Ulxo=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJqtTy3F9hysXE46C0Uf9WFjKg78r9NXplZohaKeBSFs5X1Adavk0zYZFmoAlFl5fkICgFJ9qbxHt9tmXJlm_TIjCXPqXro6x1b99j1xgNwq78ooNHALsLpTZor17rm0np2xa_i6g8SzX9DAbTPqY_GcApVzhzWEPLVjQdqgzj5VzSMUmC_l7Ulxo=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">As we get closer to the top, most of the snow has cleared.
The green portions of the mountain have been replaced by stone walls that seem
to grow closer and closer, almost as if the mountain is trying to trap us. The
light filling the space is still bright, but almost more focused, or closer.
The color has changed, now a strange mix of reds, oranges and yellow. It seems
like there’s a big ball, giving off the light, it hurts my eyes to look at it,
so I try to avoid staring for too long. A single beam of light is shooting
directly down, landing on a spot up higher that I can’t see from here, the
stairs ahead and walls to the side block my view, even using magic. From where
the beam of light lands, another is shooting out above our heads. I don’t know
for sure, but it seems like that’s the beam of light that the migrants have
been following around. I’m so far from home, no wonder the light is so weak all
the way out there. I wonder if it’ll be different when the sun can light the
entire world. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I miss sunsets,” Jabez says, almost as a whisper.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What are sunsets?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“When the sun goes down for the night. It’s just really,
nice.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s calming. Almost like it’s congratulating you on
surviving.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We haven’t survived just yet. I think it’s telling us to
calm down and prepare for whatever happens next so that we’ll make it out okay.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I like that.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We don’t do as much talking now. As the last bits of light
start to fade the top of a tower comes into view. Slowly more and more of the
temple comes into view. It’s nothing like any temple that I’ve ever seen. It’s
massive. The staircase splits into two leading up to twin entrances to the huge
stone walls. Towers larger than any building I’ve ever seen stand in the center
and on each end. They reach out to the edges of both mountains. Appearing as if
the temple was carved out of the mountains themselves. Even in the dark the
torches that line the walls, and lanterns that light the windows show the
bright white stone of the building that sparkly gently when the light hits it.
Massive statues hang on top of the doorways on either side of the building.
Each features some kind of sorcerer wearing a mask and pointing towards the
other. My first thought is how beautiful the place would be when the sun is
shining. My second thought is how haunting it is now to be staring down at the
building. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A bell begins to ring gently as we approach the temple.
Slowly more lights appear within the building. Someone must have been waiting
for visitors. The doors open, welcoming us inside.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, things are going to get a little crazy in here. Just
trust me, and stick by my side,” Jabez whispers as we get closer to the door.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t have time to ask what he has planned before we enter
the temple. The doors lead into a massive room. This place has to be even
larger than it looks from the outside. A group of seven sorcerers await us as
we reach the center of the room. Each wearing long yellow robes with various
chains hanging freely. Their faces are covered by large oversized hoods
revealing nothing above the mouth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Welcome visitors,” the first speaks in a light voice. “Have
you come to submerge yourself in the world of magic?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We’ve come to,” I begin speaking before Jabez covers my
mouth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He removes his mask once again, “I’ve come to challenge for
control of the coven.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“And who might you be,” an enraged, old and deep voice comes
the sorcerer in the center.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Jabez, bringer of pain, taker of light.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What,” the words come from my mouth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Stand by my me, I promise, I’ll explain.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t have anything to say. What can I say? The sorcerer
who stole the light is right next to me. But I don’t know if I can believe him.
He doesn’t look old enough, the light has been gone for years. Despite his
strange look, he doesn’t look to be any older than I am. The sorcerers speak
amongst themselves all while Jabez waits as if this isn’t shocking. Everything
is going as he planned it. He warned me things wouldn’t go how I expected it
but he doesn’t seem shocked.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“How do you wish to challenge,” one of the sorcerers asks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I believe combat was the preferred method in my youth,”
Jabez answers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s more discussion amongst the sorcerers before the
angry sorcerer from earlier speaks again, “Challenge accepted, if you can prove
yourself worthy. You will need to first survive a two on two battle with two
sorcerers of my choosing.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I have nothing to do with this,” I speak up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Silence,” the building shakes as he raises his voice. I’m
not sure if it’s fear or surprise that silences me. “You stand with the taker
of light. You are his ally and you will fight with him.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We accept,” Jabez speaks with confidence in his voice.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You shall rest tonight and tomorrow. The day after, you
will fight,” another sorcerer speaks calmly. “My friend shall show you to the
guest quarters.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I keep shooting glances at Jabez but he’s not showing any
signs of emotion. None of the deep thoughts he shared on the way here. He’s
just walked me into a monster’s den and picked a fight, yet he’s not bothered
at all. I can’t help but wonder if he set Levi up to die now. I was wrong to
trust him.</p></div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-88049526028317189052022-04-15T00:00:00.004-04:002022-04-15T00:00:00.198-04:00Light Seekers #18 – خفيفة <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRUb7z_uvWd3ezqn8RMygjmH15_oVN0NgbSajj8zGg1_49GG5ejJ0faQzQIdSFPrneyDwz88f5yOuoj_93PPHsWQ439h9HEZ6mqj0JUIie0o6YQgOH7jaM9xvWBDAW8nEQdxv_i0zzV2IxiOoi0MEcmJ6ENM2MPdVnkLmJ9Y4pfxCkwgLYVUNoXHA=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRUb7z_uvWd3ezqn8RMygjmH15_oVN0NgbSajj8zGg1_49GG5ejJ0faQzQIdSFPrneyDwz88f5yOuoj_93PPHsWQ439h9HEZ6mqj0JUIie0o6YQgOH7jaM9xvWBDAW8nEQdxv_i0zzV2IxiOoi0MEcmJ6ENM2MPdVnkLmJ9Y4pfxCkwgLYVUNoXHA=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">I’ve never killed anyone before. I’ve killed a few animals,
but that’s different. I was hunting for food, to survive. Animals hunt animals
all the time. This is different, this is a person. This was a person, now it’s
just a pile of flesh and stolen furs. It’s survival, the same as hunting. He
was going to kill me. I had to kill him if I wanted to live. I feel a tug as
Mask tucks the knife back into it’s holster on my side.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Look at me,” Mask says. “Just look at me.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I stare at him in his jacket missing a portion of the
shoulder blown away. He steps to the side, trying to block the sorcerer’s
corpse from my view. I don’t need to see the physical body. I’ll see it
forever, seeing things is just what I do. I’ll forever remember what he was
wearing, where he was. I’ll remember the sound of the knife penetrating his
skull, the thud as he fell to the ground. I’ll remember the small trail of
blood leading down his mask, the slight twitch he gave before it all came to an
end. I’ll remember Mask taking the knife and wiping it on the sorcerer’s
clothes; the same way he had wiped the knives on the bears fur. This is part of
me now.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Let’s walk,” he starts to pull at me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Just leave me behind.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I can’t leave a friend behind, especially one that saved my
life.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You said we weren’t friends.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No, you said we weren’t friends. I sparred with you in
class, invited you into my home, fed you, clothed you. We might even be family.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well thank you dear brother.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Now let’s get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We can’t just leave the body.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Someone will come down to get it, just walk with me,” Mask
pulls me harder this time around.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">10,000 steps never seemed like so few, if I had ever walked
up 10,000 steps. Which each step I feel I’ll need 10,000 more just to clear my
mind of what just happened. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s your name,” I ask Mask trying to clear my mind.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Jabez,” he answers bluntly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Really? You just had a lie ready to go?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No, it’s my real name. You don’t hear me making fun of your
name Najar,” I was unaware he knew my name.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I didn’t make fun of your name. I just thought you were
lying. It’s a nice name really.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I hate it,” he’s always been blunt but I didn’t expect the
coldness of which responded.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Why do you hate it?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It means to be born in pain. I brought my mother pain
during my birth. Can you imagine giving your mother so much pain that she names
you after it? You’d do anything to apologize to her. It only made sense I’d go
on to develop pain magic. Do you believe in a God?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t know, I never had much time to think about him, or her,
it.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Most people don’t. But I believe in God. I do, because
that’s the only way that the cruelty of life makes sense. We’re being tested
for something, we have to be.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What made you bring up all of this?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Because you killed a man, and all you wanted to do was
bring light to the world so that everyone could see. Now, he won’t be able to
see when you do. It’s another of God’s cruel jokes.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jabez, his name is Jabez. He’s never been one to start
conversations, but he’s talkative all of a sudden. I expected him to be tired,
especially now that we’re climbing the stairs. Instead it seems like he’s
energized, almost excited. I wish I could borrow some energy from him for the
first time. All I’m feeling is fear and anxiety. I’m not sure if it’s because I
just killed a man or because I don’t know what’s at this temple. If some guy
hanging around at the bottom is willing to kill people, who knows what they
might do at the top of the mountain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, things aren’t going to go the way you think they will
up here,” Jabez starts to talk again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You might have an idea of how things are supposed to go,
but things don’t go as planned. No matter what happens up there, I need you to
trust me.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you going to tell anyone that I killed that guy?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What would lead you to believe I was going to tell anyone?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t know, I’m just, freaked out about all of this. Levi
is missing, you told me your name, called me a friend and to top it all off I
just killed a guy.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Let’s take a break,” Jabez stops walking and sits on the
stairs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I sit next to him and take off my mask so I can have some
fresh air. It’s funny, this whole mountain is covered with a thin layer of snow
except this staircase. The funnier thing is snow. Jabez digs into his bag and
pulls out some candy. I’ve never actually seen him eat anything before, but he
has to. Maybe he’s a chimera and eats through a hole in his hand or something.
He turns one of the knobs on his mask, of course he’d eat through a hole, but
why the side. He pulls off the mask and eats handful of candy. His auburn skin
contrasts his short but coily fiery red hair. I’ve never seen anyone that looks
like him, he would stand out anywhere he went. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Want some,” he offers me the candy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you going to kill me?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You told me your name, and showed me your face.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“If I die up here, I’d like someone to know who I was.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll just take the candy.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Good idea.”</p></div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-39291003972276710802022-04-11T00:00:00.004-04:002022-04-11T00:00:00.218-04:00Light Seekers #17 – Llum<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg026tFjxrFc6wILcQuyFrr4H2eMPJJJSdg2yp-o7QtEXLXYpxDjMH5WIEAMyH41JFSRj42jgIg1m5NebqHLtMCl0t_BhZDQtfU46uMv_2xyeIwpi4_HR-X6bwtlDMiST0HLqaBwWgUzIIBi1IIKtSM7iaoA4PzqEeP4CNNEl_Xh8B24PAc5HzL_s8=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg026tFjxrFc6wILcQuyFrr4H2eMPJJJSdg2yp-o7QtEXLXYpxDjMH5WIEAMyH41JFSRj42jgIg1m5NebqHLtMCl0t_BhZDQtfU46uMv_2xyeIwpi4_HR-X6bwtlDMiST0HLqaBwWgUzIIBi1IIKtSM7iaoA4PzqEeP4CNNEl_Xh8B24PAc5HzL_s8=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><br />There isn’t much conversation. Mask and the sorcerer are
locked in a staring contest. I can tell that they both have the urge to start a
fight. I’m just wondering when it’ll start. There wasn’t much discussion after
the story.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Why don’t you take off your mask,” The sorcerer asks Mask.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Why don’t you put one on, and cover that face.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“If I put my mask on, could you handle what would come
next?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“So what kind of fur is that,” I ask trying to ease the
tension.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s chimera fur, he made the chimera in the cave,” Mask
responds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Excellent deductive reasoning,” the sorcerer responds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Can we all just take a moment to enjoy the warmth of this
fire?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“He’s going to try killing us,” Mask responds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What? Why would he do that?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Part of the reason there aren’t many pilgrimages here
anymore is sorcerers killing those who wish to reach their level,” Mask flexes
his fingers in his gloves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“How about you accompany back to the temple.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You have better chances of me accompanying me to Hell,”
Mask stands up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ve heard rumors that you never could make things easy,”
the sorcerer sighs, placing his hands on his knees. “I suppose we’re going to
do this,” the sorcerer stands.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I watch as the sorcerer stands and reaches beneath the furs
draping his body. He retrieves a mask; it looks almost repletion with various colors
of diamond patterns across the white mask, a single crooked horn extends from
the left side and more fur hangs from the back. The most striking piece is the
mouth. It’s held open by some kind of metal bars with all kinds of odd and dark
sharp teeth poking out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mask rushes in as the sorcerer drops the furs covering his
body. Before Mask can reach him, the sorcerer spits a ball of fire directly at
him. Mask dives out of the way. That’s something I didn’t expect, but hardly
the world ending magic I had come to expect from sorcerers. Mask doesn’t make
another move, almost as if they’re in a stale mate. The sorcerer attacks next,
an seemingly endless barrage of small fire balls spit at Mask. As he dodges
them I can’t help but wonder if should help him out. I just don’t understand
why they’re fighting. I can’t go any further without Mask, but he started this.
I find myself staring at the spots of green grass popping through as the snow
gets burned away. Mask can’t seem to get close enough to touch him. If I interfere
will he be upset that I didn’t let him finish.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, let’s just talk this out,” I find myself yelling as
Mask bare dodges another fireball. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mask is gaining ground, but he’s not doing it without taking
some huge risks. I’m not sure if the sorcerer lacks the ability to fight, or
just knows Mask is a better fighter. As Mask makes a dash the sorcerer lets out
a massive blast of flames from his mouth, larger than anything else. Mask mages
to hid behind a stone but his jacket catches fire. He flings it to the side
revealing his strange leather shirt beneath. It’s what I’ve come to expect from
him, pieces of metal along the forearms and various zippers across the torso of
the shirt. Seemingly angry, the sorcerer spits flame into the air. They come
down in a ring of fire surrounding the two. He’s trying to limit Mask’s ability
to dodge him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like a wounded animal Mask rushes directly at the sorcerer
who takes the opportunity to shrink the field again. When the next blast of
fire comes Mask shields his head and rushes through the flame. Still burning,
he tackles the sorcerer to the ground. He jams the metal covered forearm into
the mouth of the sorcerer and uses his free hand to hold the sorcerer’s head. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I recognize the fight is over when the sorcerer cries out in
pain the same way I had. Mask has won on a suicide play. But was it worth it. I
make my way over to help him up from the ground. He hesitates, but takes my
hand as I help him from the ground. He struggles to gather his things, but
insists we head for the infinite stairway right away. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I spot the sorcerer rising from the now, before Mask does.
The inhaling motion he made with every burst of flame was too familiar. He’s
going to burn us both up. I fling a throwing knife at him, but I close my eyes
before it hits my target. A soft thud in the snow lets me know I hit my target;
forehead, dead center.<o:p></o:p></p><p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-65106168517428598732022-04-08T00:00:00.005-04:002022-04-08T00:00:00.221-04:00Light Seekers #16 – Lampu<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicH3CCX49gp3XD0qr2zHFNpe9px2FVd0frDxatVxzUuUm49yqyLw7fdH-0v7Hfi6gVLfO8dNFENW5d8lo-IoXgoNF_1xcT2NiT3I6jrFi2NMlapfbjZXUgVjkcQZdXhuErfcDZXESK5ijnIHfIzTRFseUy31O-JbwdFvXk7K1c-FGsqJBbyvSci0E=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicH3CCX49gp3XD0qr2zHFNpe9px2FVd0frDxatVxzUuUm49yqyLw7fdH-0v7Hfi6gVLfO8dNFENW5d8lo-IoXgoNF_1xcT2NiT3I6jrFi2NMlapfbjZXUgVjkcQZdXhuErfcDZXESK5ijnIHfIzTRFseUy31O-JbwdFvXk7K1c-FGsqJBbyvSci0E=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><br />“I think I see the exit,” I shine the light as if Mask could
see it from here.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll take your word for it. Just watch for more chimera.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ve come across a few rats, occasionally a dead one, but
nothing else like the chimera. Mask seems to think that the chimera was
surviving on them since it doesn’t look like anyone has come to feed it lately.
Beyond that, the cave seems to be long, a straight shot, but constantly heading
upwards. In some spots it’s steeper than others, but nothing that’s too much to
handle. Wooden pillars support parts of the cave that were probably man made,
but eventually they always led back to a natural part of the cave. It’s a long
walk, longer than we were in the forest for sure. I didn’t want to rest when we
jumped off the train, but I’d love to rest now.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we get closer to the exit it keeps getting colder, colder
than I’ve ever been before. Little white flakes of something keep floating in
from the outside. Mask doesn’t seem to mind them. I keep trying to catch them,
but as they land on my hand they turn into water before I can really study
them. But they’re starting to stick to the ground. It’s soft, but sounds like
it’s crunching beneath my feet. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s snow,” Mask says.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I saw you trying to catch the snowflakes in your hand.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Okay, so what’s snow.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s like frozen rain. It snows when it’s cold enough. We
live in the southern hemisphere so you’ve probably never had a winter before.
Winter is the cold season in most places around the world. Snow is pretty
common there. It’ll snow more as we get closer to the top and the temperature
drops.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Hemisphere, winter and temperature.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Those are the words you said that I don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mask just laughs and keeps walking, speeding up as we get
closer to the exit, almost as if he’s excited. It’s the closest thing to happy
that I’ve seen him be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Outside, the ground is covered with snow, it’s incredibly
cold. But, more than that the light. It’s brighter than I’ve ever seen
anything. The places where it touches my skin is warm. This is it, this is
sunlight, the thing I keep hearing about. It’s warmth is real. Everything they
said it would be. The light I received at home, the light that people chase
around the world is nothing compared to the real thing. This is amazing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We’re here. We’ve got about a mile to go. From there the
left will take us to the infinite stairs, the right will take us to the
village. I’m sure it’s abandoned so we’ll just head for the stairs,” Mask is
speaking but I don’t care. “Hey, let’s go before the sun sets.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“This doesn’t last forever?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No, but it’ll come back the next day.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My mind is spinning at 1000 miles an hour right now. I just
follow him through the snow, catching glimpses of things I had never seen
before. A tree with pink leaves, the snow seems to glitter as it falls from the
sky. There’re clouds, but not like the normal clouds. They’re white, and fluffy,
almost as if you’d fall through if you tried to touch one. Nothing like the
usual dark clouds that cover the sky.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s beautiful isn’t it,” a voice I’ve never heard answers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah,” I respond.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a man in strange clothing, sitting alone near a
small fire. Some kind of mixture of strange furs draped over his shoulders
barely show the loose yellow clothing beneath. His head is shaved bald, but
there’s a distinctive white tattoo around his eye stands out against his dark
skin. The same sun symbol that Mask pointed out on the trees earlier. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Would you like to join me,” the man asks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No,” Mask responds coldly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It won’t hurt to warm up, and share your story. It is so
rare that we see pilgrims these days.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You must be a sorcerer,” I ask.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, I am. You must be seeking to become one.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m looking to bring sunlight back to the world.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Stop talking to him,” Mask interrupts trying to lead me
past the fire.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Then, would you like to hear a story about how the sun was taken
away.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mask seems infuriated when I take a seat on one of the rocks
around the fire. I’m interested in adding another story to the list, more than
that I’m interested in finally taking a break after walking through that cave
that seemed near endless.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“If you come to regret this, remember, I warned you,” Mask
says taking a seat. He leans in and whispers, “don’t say I didn’t warn you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“This story tarts a long time ago, like many stories, it
starts with a child. A child that had a great magic, but did not have the
ability to control it. As the child grew older, the magic in his body grew
stronger. The other sorcerers were afraid of him. The child was prone to temper
tantrums and never learned to control his emotions or power.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Where is this going,” Mask interrupts him, irritated by the
whole thing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“One day, the child threw a tantrum,” the sorcerer
continues. “This wasn’t like any other tantrum. They say he pulled the sun down
from the sky. When it was all done, the world had gone dark and the child had
fled. Remnants of the sun remained here on Earth, and we do what we can to
spread those among the people. It is all we can do to make up for that child’s
actions.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What a load of crap,” Mask responds.<o:p></o:p></p><p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-85464211707800905912022-04-04T00:00:00.001-04:002022-04-04T00:00:00.222-04:00Light Seekers #15 – Lys<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQZgx8_RZz5FIZVyTMkTbpRObv-s1yPXpnwrxDcgoasVEcxCpbicMCrybHniro7dsNPSoDdREjcZgnDqQ37StQfKmXY48Jcx6TbTVijcuJ3UGVf1Xx5B9EiBsa1N4DfBX0Ak6wzAjgLmuU9gkxmp3XFtkROiTgRE7EM2-aSTNBUF2vH_vVVDYjH2I=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQZgx8_RZz5FIZVyTMkTbpRObv-s1yPXpnwrxDcgoasVEcxCpbicMCrybHniro7dsNPSoDdREjcZgnDqQ37StQfKmXY48Jcx6TbTVijcuJ3UGVf1Xx5B9EiBsa1N4DfBX0Ak6wzAjgLmuU9gkxmp3XFtkROiTgRE7EM2-aSTNBUF2vH_vVVDYjH2I=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I wasn’t in the mood to argue when Mask woke me up and led
me to the largest forest I’ve ever seen. He made us stop and rest so I could
get Levi off my mind, but I can’t. I keep going back and forth between anger
and sadness. One moment I’m mad that he would leave me. How can he do that to
me? We’ve been through so much together just to get to the city and in the
past. I took so many beatings trying to keep other kids from beating the crap
out of him. How could he just abandon me like that? But at the same time, I get
it. I wasn’t listening to what he wanted. I listened to what he wanted to eat,
what he wanted to do in our free time, but I never listened to the important
things. Mask isn’t much for conversation so he’s not done a lot to keep my mind
off the topic. He just keeps pausing and rubbing on trees for some reason. I
thought he was a creep before, and rubbing on trees hasn’t changed my mind.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What are you doing,” I ask as he strokes and rubs on
another tree.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Markings. There’s markings that’ll lead us through the
woods so we can avoid climbing the mountain.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Just say you don’t know where we’re going.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I know where we’re going. I know several ways to get there.
I was preparing for this trip before I met you. I’ve already made plans. If you
had planned things, your friend might be here still.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I thought you said you wanted me to clear my mind, and here
you are rubbing sand in my open wound.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s your fault the metaphorical wound still hurts. You
could have accepted it, bandaged it, and moved on. You could have just ignored
it and pressed forward fueled by determination. Instead, you’re sitting on the
battlefield staring at the wound asking how could this happen. You know why it
happened, you know how it happened, and you’re still sitting there in disbelief,”
he nods at the tree and starts walking.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“This isn’t a battlefield. In case you didn’t notice,
there’s nobody trying to kill us out here. We’re just wandering through the
woods while you measure trees.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Physical pain, emotional pain, it’s all the same.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s not the same at all.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mask ignores me like he didn’t hear what I just said and
starts to climb over a small hill made up of rocks. He reaches the top and
looks down at me, waiting for me to climb. I start the climb; my fingers keep
getting caught between the rocks. A rock beneath my foot slips and I feel the
same sense of panic I did jumping off the train. The impact never comes, but
I’m afraid to open my eyes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I can’t keep holding you, climb up,” Mask yells through
gritted teeth, while gripping my arm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I finally make it to the top and climb to my knees. “Thank
you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Emotional pain and physical pain are the same. Physical
pain is the sign that something has gone wrong. It’s why when I overload your
body with pain, it shuts down. It can’t figure out what went wrong. Emotional
pain is the same, it’s a sign that something has gone wrong. If you leave
either one untreated for too long, it’ll kill you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mask starts to examine another tree, “what are you looking
for,” I ask.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Come look,” he points out a circle with lines extending
from it. Inside the circle is an arrow pointing to the right. “The circle is
the sun, the arrow points towards the Sun Temple.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s the Sun Temple.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The sorcerer’s home. There used to be a whole city up
there, but most people fled after the sun’s light was blocked out.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You sure seem to know a lot.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I told you, research.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We keep following the symbols and I keep trying to take my
mind off Levi. We’re heading upwards at a slow pace, but he’s sure this isn’t
the actual mountain, just a hill leading to the mountain. It seems like we’ve
been out here forever, slipping in mud and squeezing through tightly planted
trees. Even with my magic and the flashlights, I can’t see much of anything out
here, it’s just that dark. Darker than anything I’ve ever seen. I can’t even
tell how close we are to the mountain because the treetops are so thick I can’t
see past them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We’re here,” Mask says as we approach a cave.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s a cave.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“A path, to the temple, a short cut.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Short cut,” I follow him in.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“In the past, many aspiring sorcerers would take a
pilgrimage to the top. There’s a path that takes 5 days before you reach the
infinite stairway.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Infinite stairway?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Really it’s closer to 10,000 stairs. The town around the
temple was built by people who made the pilgrimage but became discouraged when
they reached the stairs. Rather than climb and chase the dream of being true
sorcerers they settled there.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Did you study a book or something? How do you-,” I lose my
train of thought spotting a large creature I’ve never seen.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The creature lets out a roar that makes me want to run, but
I’m frozen. I can’t move as it stands tall on it’s hind legs. The fur across
it’s body is patchy in places. In other places body parts seem to be missing or
attached from other creatures. It roars again, but my legs still won’t move.
Even being able to see a complete 360 degrees, I don’t know where Mask has
gone. The creature roars one last time before it comes down on all four. The
hind legs, large, brown fury and sturdy, the front legs look thinner, feline
like with stripes. It rushes towards me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Throw a knife you idiot,” I hear mask call out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I panic and throw knife after knife. Each one piercing the
flesh of the beast, sticking out, but never bringing it down. I mange to land
knives in each of the six eyes, but it still approaches without hesitation. I
grip the combat knives, preparing for a fight, because I can’t outrun it. A
gunshot rings out, echoing in the cave. Another roar, I launch a combat knife
through it’s mouth and down it’s throat. It stands up and roars again,
strained, a painful roar. It falls over to it’s back, flailing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Cut the throw and finish it off,” Mask says as he
approaches.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What is this?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“A chimera. Some sorcerers make them for defense. They’re
made out of different kinds of animals, held together by magic.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That’s sick.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“There’s more sick stuff the closer we get to the top.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I kneel on the creatures chest, and run my knife across it’s
throat as hard as I can. Blood squirts out and lands on my face. I almost
vomit, but hold it together. Mask and I begin to pull my knives from it once it
has taken it’s last breaths. I should have left with Levi.<o:p></o:p></p><p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-39898177637548244122022-04-01T00:00:00.006-04:002022-04-01T00:00:00.211-04:00Light Seekers #14 – Luce<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw7Uw1iTokYoZyrD7B8xmfTI4D5ZnNh3rZdb2ecNd4mMC9nzm-nh82QAoXqlO9OYd8yh4GlCzeRgTAeV1w1liIrPY3QhTki2mT7w-5fF-T-fAYbNZ8hOiVkeENqHsIrCntQSORQcZ5uDMtS1EKxKxwRY_3NznkczWWkXYSLvcK99tiOiVUrn4Rjgw=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw7Uw1iTokYoZyrD7B8xmfTI4D5ZnNh3rZdb2ecNd4mMC9nzm-nh82QAoXqlO9OYd8yh4GlCzeRgTAeV1w1liIrPY3QhTki2mT7w-5fF-T-fAYbNZ8hOiVkeENqHsIrCntQSORQcZ5uDMtS1EKxKxwRY_3NznkczWWkXYSLvcK99tiOiVUrn4Rjgw=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">“Wake up,” Mask shakes my shoulder.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s going on?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Our stop is coming up.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I lean out the window and take a look, “I don’t see anything
out there.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, our stop is between stops,” Levi answers looking
annoyed. “He didn’t mention that.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“How do we got off the train,” I ask.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Follow me,” Mask slides open our cabin door.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We follow him through the back of the train. Some of the
other passengers are asleep, others are up having conversations or eating.
Nobody seems to find it odd that three men carrying backpacks and weapons are
moving through the train. Mask slides open the door to the back of the train,
exposing us to the elements again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“So how are we going to get down with the train going so
fast,” Levi asks as we look out into the dark.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“There’s a turn coming up, the train will slow down for it,
that’s when we’ll jump. Try to land on your back and let your body roll. Don’t
fight it, you’ll hurt yourself. Don’t try to break your fall, you’ll break your
arms,” Mask seems like he’s done this before.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We could just wait for the next stop,” Levi still looks
annoyed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No time for that.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know where this is going. I yawn and stretch preparing for
this while Levi still argues about how insane this is. He’s right, but we don’t
really have a choice. It isn’t like we could find our way on our own. Levi’s
wild refusal has started to draw attention from others riding in the train.
Mask doesn’t seem to care, actually I’m sure he doesn’t care. In the middle of
one long sentence from Levi, Mask backs up and runs before jumping out of the
train. I’ve already made up my mind so by the time Levi turns to me, I’ve
already backed up and started to run. I can see just about everything, and I
still manage to trip jumping out. A sense of panic sets in, my stomach drops
and jumps into my throat at the same time. My back slams to the ground, cushioned
by my backpack and I just roll. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mask grabs my hand and helps me to my feet, “you’d think
you’d done it before.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Thanks, did you see where Levi landed?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He points to the train and I watch as Levi still refuses to
jump. I take off running, trying to keep up with the train. Levi doesn’t say
anything, he just keeps looking on. He’s mouthing something, but I can’t read
lips.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Jump,” I call out to him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I can’t. This is as far as I go,” he yells back.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Just jump!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m sorry,” Levi just keeps repeating as I fail to catch
the train. “I’ll be in Firerbend,” are the last words I can make out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the train gets further and further away I can see Levi
close the door. I just watch waiting for the train to leave my vision, hoping
Levi changes his mind and jumps off the train. If I had known he wasn’t going
to jump, I would have pushed him. The train is gone, and so is my best friend,
my only friend. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You want a moment,” Mask asks me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Let’s just get going.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Next train stop is about forty miles out according to my
map. We can go get him, but the mountain is closer. Right through the woods.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Let’s just keep going. He wouldn’t come anyway.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s a lot easier to see with the flashlights. Mask leads to
some hidden forest or something. I don’t know what he was explaining. I’m more
concerned about Levi. I know he wanted to stay in Firerbend and build a life
but this is too much. This is too far. Will he even be able to make it on his
on? He knows the wilderness stuff and he can talk really good, but he’s can’t
make it on his own. He can’t fight, he’ll get robbed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I knew your friend wasn’t coming,” Mask says.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, after our fight in the alley. While you were knocked
out, we talked. He’s very talkative. He told me your plan.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What else?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“He told me he wanted to start a life in the city, wanted
you to stay with him.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I knew that’s what he wanted. But I had other plans. I
couldn’t just stop because he wanted to live a boring life.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“But you wanted him to go out on an adventure with you. Did
you ever ask him what he wanted to do?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I guess I didn’t.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“He’ll be fine, I gave him the key to my place.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“So you worked on this whole thing with him?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Why?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Because he’s weak, and he’s slow us down.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“But he’s my friend.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Is he? Because with all the extra colors, and long
distances over every direction that you can see, you still can’t see that he’s
scared out of his mind. He only came this far because he cares about you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t have a response. For a guy who says that he never
had a friend before, he seems to know more about how to treat friends than I
do. Levi probably is scared. He’s always scared, always a victim. I didn’t make
him come on this trip wit me, but I kept dragging him along, further and
further. I never gave any thought to what he wanted to do or where he wanted to
go. I knew that he wanted to wrap this up and just live a normal life. I just
kept pushing him. I’m a terrible friend. He’s my friend, but I haven’t been a
friend to him. Dad is dead, Mom is dead, and now the last person in the world
that cares about me is on a train, running away from me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We should just set up camp before heading into the forest.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No, let’s keep going.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You need to get your head on straight. You’re a liability
right now.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The only person in the world that I could call a friend
just left me. I don’t have any parents, no family, no other friends. I’m sorry
if I’m a little out of it right now.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Shut up and get your tent out. Then you can stop acting
like you’re the only person who ever lost someone.”</p></div>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016535168064188228.post-22298933594865784892022-03-28T00:00:00.005-04:002022-03-28T00:00:00.212-04:00Light Seekers #13 – Māmā<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdpodil36gYavRSkJ_EJ_4AEhr-61rPmjoqMN0fQehex-AO6vXwBKmEUNVtNBpK6ZIQ6BD6TOZzNSRQUjSb9DRIWU67CZZIXjY59-bnEPC1gPgxR059-09M4HbQ6aEbWf-az2QDn53hFojozpzRV5GReZFiilyJ0CUY9nSI_QNwGu2cbzmE6VmwSY=s826" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="826" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdpodil36gYavRSkJ_EJ_4AEhr-61rPmjoqMN0fQehex-AO6vXwBKmEUNVtNBpK6ZIQ6BD6TOZzNSRQUjSb9DRIWU67CZZIXjY59-bnEPC1gPgxR059-09M4HbQ6aEbWf-az2QDn53hFojozpzRV5GReZFiilyJ0CUY9nSI_QNwGu2cbzmE6VmwSY=w640-h184" width="640" /></a></div><br />Masked Mystery still hasn’t told me his name, or taken off
his mask. But, he’s shown me some kindness, that I’m not sure anyone besides
Levi has. He bought me knives, a lot of knives. Different kinds, throwing
knives, and of course knives for fighting up close. I’ve gotten new clothes,
they’re similar to his, but I don’t hate them. They’re comfortable, and
functional. I wasn’t a fan of leather pants but they allow for a lot of
mobility. While his pants are decorated with lots of chains, my feature pockets
and loops for knives, with a similar shirt. I’ve gotten a pair of new sneakers,
the first time in my life. They’re comfortable, more comfortable than ever and
also stylish. If he’s trying to get me on his side before betraying me, it’s
working. Levi didn’t want to dress in black leather like the two of us, he
doesn’t even want to leave the town or learn to use a weapon.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s too late for him now. We’re packed and waiting inside
the tunnel we came through. Mask says they were called subways in the past. We’re
supposed to pass two stations on the train, then exit and start climbing a
mountain. He promises the train will be faster than just walking towards the
mountain with no real direction, which was my plan. I didn’t even bother to
argue, because he had a map, and I never did.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inside the train is more luxury, things I’ve never seen
before. Things Levi has never seen before. Where we’re from I consider Levi
rich, but there’s so much he could never have afforded or even seen. Part of it
is because we’re ‘bumpkins,’ as Mask reminds us. Our town had light for several
seasons, but there’s so much stuff we lacked. We had been carrying fuel to
light torches. They have these things called flashlights that can feed off
batteries charged by your magic energy, and it doesn’t take a lot of energy.
It’s amazing. The train is no different. Inside we have our own small room; two
benches, a table and window. The train lets out a big roar before it starts to
vibrate and the scenery outside our window starts to change.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We should go over some information about sorcerers on the
journey,” Mask says.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s to know,” Levi asks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“They’re not like normal magic users. If anything, magic
users can be broken into four, maybe five levels,” he pulls a small blue
notebook from his jacket.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve seen the notebook before, he treasures it. The notebook
seems to be filled with different ideas and notes he’s taken. He had notes on
every person in our dojo; their strengths and weaknesses. I was only able to
keep up with him because according to his notes I’m, ‘hotheaded and
unpredictable.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’d really like to look out the window, but this might be
important,” I pull down the window cover.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m starting to like you,” Mask says before opening his
book. “Level D, these people have magic, but not enough for it to be useful.
They can power devices that use magic batteries but beyond that, useless. Level
C, these people can really use their magic in different ways. Some of them can
use it for fighting, some can use it to make tasks easier.” He points at Levi,
“You’re a C. You can use magic to make your life easier, and it has great
combat use, but you’re terrible with it. You should practice more.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, we can’t all dress like psychopaths and pick fights
in alleyways,” Levi stares back out the window.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Me and you, both of us are probably level B,” Mask pauses
for a moment. “Yeah, we’re level B. We’ve got plenty of magic to spare, we can
use it in combat, we can use it in our daily lives. Your eyes are more useful
outside of combat, but my ability to manipulate pain, will turn the tides of
battle instantly. But level B also has scholars, people who can’t fight at all
but come up with incredible ways to use magic. Éliane is a level B. She can’t fight,
but she has a ridiculous amount of magic. She can light the entire city, every
day without getting tired.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think about Sammy, probably a level B. I didn’t get the
idea that he was a fighter at all, but I could feel the magic rolling off him.
He also spent a lot of time studying, all of his friends did. They may not be
able to win a fight, but if they can give you a lizard’s body they’re probably
pretty strong too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Level A, those are people with large volumes of magic, rare
abilities and great skill. We could probably be Level A one day. But, A level
people have the ability to destroy your lives.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m going to guess S for Sorcerer,” Levi rolls his eyes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, S for Sorcerer. Their power can’t really be measured.
They can do the impossible. It’s said that each has their own little world of
magic. They can pull you in and it’s almost impossible to fight back. Only a
sorcerer could stop a sorcerer.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Did you come up with this system on your own,” I ask once
he finishes his explanation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No, my mother came up with the idea. I just fleshed it out
and made observations.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What was the fifth level,” Levi interrupts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, I guess you can call it level E. People who can’t use
magic at all,” Mask responds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Where’s your mom now,” I bring us back to the topic.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“She’s,” Mask pauses and sighs. “She’s not able to get out
much. I haven’t seen her in a long time, but I miss her every day.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, I miss my mom too.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think everyone misses their mom,” Levi adds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now that we’re passing through the darkness the scenery
isn’t so nice. Éliane light doesn’t come out this far, but I can still make out
the mountains. I know that our destination is closer than ever, and I’m glad to
be moving.<o:p></o:p></p><p></p>Darrell S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073457397285089113noreply@blogger.com